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That has been the focus of Old Orchard, which in the past fiveyears has introduced juices made from anti-oxidant-rich ingredientssuch as blueberries, tart cherries and pomegranates -- along withorganic teas sweetened with 2 percent fruit Bottled Juice and organic canejuice. "Our challenge is to be ahead of what is next," said Miller, whooversaw the development of FruitSense's six flavors in just fourmonths. The company's best-selling Healthy Balance line is sweetened withSplenda, an artificial sweetener. Launched in 2005, Healthy Balancetargets consumers with diabetes and those trying to cut sugarintake. The line accounts for a quarter of Old Orchard's sales. An important competitive advantage for Old Orchard is its flexibility in finding ingredients around theworld while competitors such as Ocean Spray and Welch's use fruitgrown by their farmer-owners. Saur started his business at age 20 when he took over his family'sApple Valley International business on the farm and orchardhomesteaded by his great-grandparents, who were Swedish immigrants. Located in West Michigan's orchard district known as The Ridge, hetook the business in a different direction when he decided toimport foreign concentrates and fruits, mostly from China. Imports rankle neighbors Back in the mid-1990s, the importation of cheap foreign appleconcentrate -- especially from China -- was devastating to theMichigan apple industry and many of Old Orchard's neighbors. "There were probably more than 200 or more family farms that wentout of business directly because of the Chinese apple concentrate,"said Denise Yockey, with the Apple Michigan Committee. The company does use some domestic produce, Miller added, thoughmuch of the state's crop is destined for other purposes. "Themajority of fruit grown in Michigan is sold as whole produce orpressed into cider, which has a limited life span," Miller said. Although he took a path that diverged from his neighbors, Saur hasbeen praised for his generosity. In 2003, he donated 88 acres of his family's 100-acre farm to theSparta school district. The $1.2 million gift became the site of anew high school. So far, Allied Capital is letting Saur continue to run the show.But he realizes that could change. "I'm the type of guy that if I can't do the job and someone can doa better job, I would have to learn to accept it," he said. Saur said Allied Capital expects him to grow the company at afaster clip than its current 10 to 12 percent average annualgrowth. That will require new products and new markets, even though OldOrchard products already are sold in 15 foreign markets, from thePhilippines to Russia. In the past year, the company has added six employees and expandeddeeper into the East and West Coast markets. Saur continues totravel extensively, looking for opportunities. "That is what is exciting about this business. It's continuallychallenging," Saur said.